My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. The 2011 illustrated edition, from Anchor Books, is quite lovely, and worth tracking down. Chinua Achebe - Chike and the River, Epub Ebook. Almost 20 years later, I can still see him in the room: Quietly intense but with a gentle, encouraging manner, Ng?g? He starts to believe that his dream is out of reach and will never happen. Also by Chinua Achebe. Loved it. By using words and discussing cultural practices in Nigeria, Achebe helps children begin understanding the idea of different cultures at an early age rather than later. He also enlists the help of his new, mischievous schoolmates, including one called S.M.O.G. Literary Freedom Project557 Grand Concourse PMB 143Bronx NY 10451info@literaryfreedom.org. Copyright FreeBookNotes.com 2014-2023. It was a great story that wasn't too drawn out, but showed than innately we all know the right actions to take in most situations. Feels odd to give a Chinua Achebe book only three stars, but it wasn't like the rest of his works and that threw me off majorly. Offers quick summary / overview and other basic information submitted by Wikipedia contributors who considers themselves "experts" in the topic at hand. Achebe wrote Chike and the River in order to provide African schoolchildren with a book whose protagonist is a young boy who shares their cultural background. Here . Chike and the River is a children's story by Chinua Achebe. Though there are some good images of Africa overall it dumbs down Chike and his town and friends. Buy. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Along the way, Chike learns valuable lessons about life, love, and the complexities of human nature. Primary Location of Practice. Achebe joined the faculty at Brown as professor of Africana Studies in 2009 after spending most of his life teaching at the University of Nigeria and the previous 15 years at Bard College. . We are experiencing technical difficulties. Achebe's vivid storytelling and rich characters make "Chike and the River" a compelling and thought-provoking read. Although he is concerned about the fact that his mother said to stay away from the river, this increases his curiosity even more. Originally published in South Africa in 1966, Chinua Achebes childrens book Chike and the River finally makes its debut here in the United States. Pages: Published: 2011. Load 3 more questions. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying . FreeBookNotes found 6 sites with book summaries or analysis of Chike and the River. Author Achebe presents the idea that nothing comes easy in a clear manner, while still writing an enjoyable, yet simple book for children to read. 2010. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. The notorious S.M.O.G. Sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. I have to read more of Achebe's stuff. The brilliance of Mr. Achebes prose is his ability to make readers feel like an omniscient sprite on Chikes shoulder: along for the ride and privy to all that he senses and sees.'"[2]. Nice to see Chinua Achebe's work again, too. "Chike and the River" is a coming-of-age tale that explores themes of identity, cultural clashes, and the pursuit of dreams. Along the way, he is exposed to a range of new experiences that are both thrilling and terrifying, from eating his first skewer of suya under the shade of a mango tree, to visiting the village magician who promises to double the money in his pocket. This passage speaks to colonialism as a form of violence. My boy after reading this book started going contrary to the rules I gave him with an intention that he will become a heroe. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info and giveaways by email. All Right Reserved. Chinua Achebewas born in Nigeria in 1930. Africanbookworm Mustve been quite an experience for the students, if a little intimidating. Visual theme-tracking, too. Publication Information. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. The latest reprint has a cover design by Victor Ekpuk. By clicking SIGN UP,I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random Houses, certain categories of personal information, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information. Chike and the River By Chinua Achebe Anchor Books Review by Deatra Haime Anderson. PDF downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. CHIKE AND THE RIVER Chapter 1 Group 1: Kaleo Lyn-Cook Kimani Wilmot Jacquelle Haye Grade 7S Literature Children things have been very hard since your father died.Life on the farm is hard and trading is very slow these days. Author: Chinua Achebe. And though I know the moral tale is a huge part of African lit, at least they usually have some fun with animals that speak and fuck and kill and humans who are evil or beautiful or unbelievably rich. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime. His mother had told him to stay away from the Niger river. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. It can be inferred, then, that if members continue converting to Christianity, relatively isolated nuclear families the village will soon become the norm in the village. $15 for 3 months. It also adds complexity to the idea that the social structures of the village are being challengedthe neighbor alludes to the fact that Chike is an Osu, a member of the lowest class. ISBN 9780307742070. Title We found no such entries for this book title. also introduced the class to so many authors mostly ignored by the Western canon: Senegals Ousmene Sembene (whos also a great film director), Ghanas Ayi Kwei Armah, Cameroons Ferdinand Oyono. If you have 30 minutes and any interest, this tale by Achebe will charm you. Chike and the River is a magical tale of boundaries, bravery, and growth, by Chinua Achebe, one of the world's most beloved and admired storytellers. It sheds light on the challenges faced by young people growing up in a changing world and provides a nuanced portrayal of Nigerian society during a time of transition. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Penguin Books. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Over the course of the novel, Chike has his ups and downs trying to reach his final goal of crossing the River Niger, while gaining courage and confidence over the course of his journey. Dimensions. was one of my all-time favorite teachers and became one of my all-time favorite authors anyone should get immersed in epic novels, from the angry, political classic Petals of Blood and the hilarious satire The Wizard of the Crow. Chikes circumstances in the novel are extremely harsh since he cannot even afford a ride across the river. In addition to teaching children to not give up, the novel gives children a look at life in Nigeria. However, he also encounters kindness and friendship from unexpected sources. Although many children cannot relate to the character directly, it is common for kids to want something, but they do not believe that they can achieve their goal. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. "African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe." Because English is not Chikes native languagerather, it is imposed on him through colonialismChike is forced to create his own definitions. Refine any search. A few years after he published his great novel Things Fall Apart, the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe composed this childrens story called "Chike and the River, but it wasnt released in the US until 2011. Part escapade, part fable, it is a simple but engaging story of 11-year old Chike who struggles to adapt to city life when he moves from the village of Umuofia to the big city of Onitsha to live with his uncle, a stern, unloving man. Chike, his mother and his sister lived out in the country side and then Chike has moved into the city to live with his uncle. In-depth summary and analysis of every of Chike's School Days. . Many children do not realize the work that must be put in to reach a goal, which Achebe indicates throughout her novel. This story of a boy who does what he isn't meant to but it all ends for the best doesn't do it for me. Join BookBrowse today to start discovering exceptional books! Interesting story that had that told around the campfire feel. -Graham S. In response to what Elizabeth judges as Amoss poor decision, Elizabeth goes to consult the diviner, who functions as the foil of Mr. Brown when it comes to figures of leadership and authoritywhereas Mr. Brown represents encroaching Western influences, the diviner represents the villages devotion to their traditional religion. This is a simple, powerful and hopeful story that provides an inside view into Nigeria and Africa. Chike needs a shilling to get across the Niger river and back. A summary of the book is about how 11 year-old Chike longed to cross the River Niger to the city of Asaba, but his challenge was that crossing by the ferry would cost him six pence, an amount he did not have. As Chike navigates the unfamiliar and often harsh environment of the city, he is forced to confront his own fears, biases, and limitations. There are no reviews yet. Chike and the River, by Chinua Achebe, is released on Tuesday, August 9, by Anchor Books ($10). Part escapade, part fable, it is a simple but engaging story of 11-year old Chike who struggles to adapt to city life when he moves from the village of Umuofia . Chike becomes determined to take this journey across the river and will do whatever it takes to achieve it, ignoring his mothers advice to stay away from the River Niger. Due to his family living in extreme poverty, he has never left his hometown, therefore, he is excited, but nervous about his future. Answer. | ISBN 9780307473868 I enjoyed some of the short stories in this book, but at times it felt very scattered and slow. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. With the help of his friend S.M.O.G., he embarks on a series of adventures to help him get there. Many reviews are behind a subscriber paywall. (including. The tone is very much Achebe, and the illustrations, though also simple, give a little vitality to the book. 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